GOVERNOR FOB JAMES - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 03/30/1979 - HFSID 83684

FOB JAMES
As Governor of Alabama, he signs a typed letter to an Ohioan, stating that "we are indeed making progress in changing the image of our state."
Typed Letter signed: "Fob James" as Governor,1 page, 7¼x10½. Montgomery, Alabama, 1979 March 30. To Paul Friscate, North Canton, Ohio. In full: "Thank you so much for your recent letter of support. The many letters I receive from out of Alabama show that we are indeed making progress in changing the image of our state. You asked which saying has meant a lot to me and I can't tell you where I first heard it or whether it is a saying attributed to some famous person but the idea that 'public officials should be servants of the people and not self-serving' reflects accurately my ideas about government. Thank you so much for your interest. Sincerely." Forrest Hood "Fob" James, Jr. (b. 1934) was an All-American halfback at Auburn (1952-1955). In 1962 he founded Diversified Products, Inc., manufacturing fitness equipment, and expanded it from an operation in his basement to a firm employing 1,500 with $1 billion in annual sales. He was elected Governor of Alabama as a Democrat in 1978, serving until 1983. After two unsuccessful bids for the office, he was elected again - this time as a Republican - in 1994. The controversial James signed into law a bill allowing classroom prayer (subsequently voided by the US Supreme Court), supported posting of the Ten Commandments in courtrooms, and expressed his disbelief in the theory of evolution. He established the Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Center at the University of Alabama (1981), named in honor of his son, who died of the disease.Normal mailing folds. Lightly toned at bottom edge. Fine condition.